Vehicles parked on Laurel towed while city repaves street

Liberal arts freshman Daniel Loughlin heads home to get his keys so he can move his car after it was towed from Laurel south of Tobin Lofts to Cypress and Howard Tuesday. Vehicles were relocated while the city of San Antonio repaved Laurel. Notes written on napkins and a message painted on the street notified vehicle owners Monday of the one-day parking restrictions. Photo by Mandy Derfler

Liberal arts freshman Daniel Loughlin shows the napkin left on his car notifiying Tobin Lofts residents of street work Tuesday on Laurel. “That’s all we had at the time,” senior corporate operator Hawk Zertuche said. The city of San Antonio left notes and painted a message on the street Monday. Photo by Mandy Derfler

City workers wrote notes on napkins and painted a message on the street Monday.

Liberal arts freshman Daniel Loughlin’s BMW 325i, and other vehicles parked along Laurel south of Tobin Lofts, was towed to Cypress and Howard today while the city of San Antonio repaves Laurel.

Office manager Nick Leto said his office wanted to give Tobin Loft residents the courtesy of warning them parking is banned during today’s road work.

A mass text reading, “Attention: If you are parked on Laurel (Street) you will be towed at your expense …,” was sent to residents at about 10:30 a.m. and Loughlin went to check his car immediately after class. Construction was already in progress and the vehicles were already moved.

Liberal arts freshman Daniel Loughlin discovers a napkin left on his car notifying Tobin Lofts residents of street work. Vehicles parked on Laurel south of Tobin Lofts were relocated to Cypress and Howard while the city of San Antonio repaved the street Tuesday. After being towed, his car was parked facing the wrong way. Photo by Mandy Derfler

Leto said the city specifically marked “no parking” along Laurel.

“However, people are still parking there so the city has begun towing cars in violation,” Leto said.

Hawk Zertuche, senior corporate operator at the city of San Antonio, said vehicle owners were notified Monday of the street closure with napkin notes and a message painted on Laurel.

“That’s all we had at the time,” Zertuche said.

Loughlin, who rooms with a friend and will be getting his own apartment at Tobin Lofts soon, said he didn’t see any of the messages because he hasn’t used his car in a week. He said he parked it on Laurel and has been walking to classes.

No one was charged for the towing and parking should be open Wednesday, Zertuche said.